General practice IT company EMIS is to be bought in a deal worth more than a billion pounds, it has been announced.
EMIS Group Plc said on 17 June that it had agreed to be acquired by Optum UK for about £1.24 billion ($1.51 billion).
Health services firm Optum UK is a part of UnitedHealth Group, which is based in the US.
Rob Sergeant, CEO of Optum UK, said the deal would help to provide better services to general practice.
‘Optum UK is focused on helping the NHS work better for clinicians and patients, and believes that this combination with EMIS will bring ever more advanced technology solutions and capabilities to the NHS and general practitioners to improve patient care,’ he said.
An Optum UK statement said the deal would mean an enhanced ability to deliver important benefits for patients, clinicians, and the NHS.
CEO of EMIS, Andy Thorburn, said the deal would help accelerate development and enable better care through innovative technology.
‘We believe this combination will have the resources and expertise to enable us to better support the NHS and clinicians through technology innovations,’ he said.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market since 2010, EMIS has grown to become a UK leader in connected healthcare software and systems. As well as providing software to GPs, helping them manage practices and keep patient records, its solutions are used in community and hospital pharmacies, community care, and accident and emergency.
